Over the last five years, RPO Resound has been offering monthly creative sessions, using the power of music to enhance the wellbeing of Brent residents.
In the 2024–25 season, our workshops reached 120 participants in the community.
Read on to learn more about two Sound Sanctuary workshops we held on Thursday 6 November.
All photos © Jasmine Waterfield/RPO
Brent Mencap
Our first workshop took place at Brent Mencap, where the RPO Resound team offered a Sound Sanctuary session for disabled adults and their carers. Led by musician, educator and leader of creative and collaborative music making, Sigrún Sævarsdóttir-Griffiths, participants experimented with a variety of instruments to collaboratively compose two songs across the morning. This month, the group were inspired by the season of autumn, with their lyrics referencing the changing colours of leaves, and cosy autumnal rituals like making a cup of warm tea.
Willesden Green Library
In the afternoon, we traveled to Willesden Green Library for a session with adults experiencing mental health or wellbeing challenges. This workshop focused on call-and-response music and musical conversations. In small groups led by RPO musicians, one participant created a rhythm while another offered a musical reply. After sharing their ideas, the groups joined together to build a collective composition. In the second half of the workshop, a participant contributed a poem she had written at home between sessions, and this was used as the starting material for a new, collaborative piece.
After the workshops, all participants receive recordings of their new songs to play to family and friends, sing along with and enjoy in the comfort of their homes.
“I think it’s great to see so many familiar faces, to have a warm welcome and feel at home, have a brew, and I really like getting the worries off my mind, refreshing my mind – my mind goes to another space when I’m here and it’s a very relaxing, refreshing, enjoyable space” Sound Sanctuary Participant
Sound Sanctuary sessions are free to attend, and we’re committed to keeping them accessible to the Brent community. To do this, we need your support. This December, the RPO is participating in the Big Give Christmas Challenge. Between Tuesday 2 - 9 December, every donation will be match funded, meaning your contribution has double the impact. Your support will help RPO Resound to continue offering creative music workshops which improve the long-term wellbeing of participants.